Many accusers claim to be motivated by personal grievance and/or by a desire to help and warn others by sharing their views. We believe that an in-depth and objective examination of the situation shows that their actions constitute something far more troubling: a coordinated and carefully executed smear campaign against a particular religious group and its spiritual teacher.

We believe these allegations, as untrue as they are, are far more than the expression of personal opinion or experience. They cumulatively have the impact of condemning and undermining the practice of Gnosticism as understood by our organization, as well as humiliating and ostracizing those who practice it. If the complaints of these accusers were followed through to their logical conclusion, it would be impossible for modern Gnosticism as we know it to function or exist.

Therefore, we find that these allegations against The Gnostic Movement and its spiritual teacher, Mark H Pritchard (Belzebuub), are far more than personal attacks, as unacceptable as such attacks are. In our view, these allegations also constitute acts of religious persecution, which is commonly defined as the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations.

Preventing people from practicing and teaching their religion is the practical outcome of these allegations and the actions made to support them. This is a serious situation which has huge social ramifications in terms of religious freedom and basic human rights. Indeed, from a spiritual perspective, it is a matter of spiritual salvation itself.

Finishing Comments

The opposition we face today is something spiritual practitioners have had to contend with throughout history. Since the term “heretic” was popularized against the Gnostics by the people persecuting them, there have always been people who have rejected the Gnostics and claimed a moral imperative for doing so, believing they were saving souls or purifying their “true” religion from a social scourge. In the past (and still even in some cases today) Gnostics were labeled as heretics, and today “cult”—a term which has been called a “hateful snarl word” that “contributes greatly to religious intolerance”—is simply its equivalent in modern times.

Tellingly though, of the more than 90,000 enrollments in The Gnostic Movement’s courses, only a very small minority of former students have shown to be involved in opposing the religious denomination in which they once chose to participate, and their motives cannot go unquestioned.

We hope that this statement sheds light on the present situation, setting the record straight with facts, and making the case for tolerance, respect, and understanding in a world that has witnessed religious intolerance, persecution, resentment, and hostility for far too long. We have no ill will towards these people who have spoken out against us and bear no resentment towards them whatsoever; we are simply writing to express the truth in our own defense.

Wishing peace and religious freedom to all.